to attend them at the land-fall where theie must needs touch, then
to seeke them in the wide sea; and next, that the aduises sent out of
Spaine and Portingall since our being of myght meete them at the Islands,
and make them divert from coming thither. Besides, the Spaniards after
theie saw vs engaged at Cales would neuer suspect or dreame of our goeing
to the Islands. And when this counsell was reiected, and we come in the
sight of Lisbon, I there againe pressed the lieing for them with a selected
fleet, and offered vpon that condition to send home the land-forces, and
all such ships as want of victualls, leaks sickness, or anie thing els had
made vnfit to staie out at sea. But first the L. Admirall and Sr. Wa[l]ter
Rawligh did directlie by attestation vnder their hands contradict the first
proposition that I made, that some ships should attend that seruice. And
when we came to the hypothesis, which were fitt and their captaines content
to staie out in all the fleet, except the Low Countrie Squadron, there
could be found but two, my L. Thom. Howard and my selfe; so as by the whole
counsell at wars, it was resolued that as well my offer and opinion, as
euerie mans els amongst vs, should be kept vnder his hand, for our
particuler discharges, and I be barred of staieing, except my L. Admirall
would assent to leaue some 8. or 10. of the Marchaunts ships besides 2. of
the Queenes: which he refused to doe: and soe our dessigne brake of.

The last omission maie seeme to be in this, that since all our seruice
consisted in taking or distroyinge the Spanish shipping and sea prouisions,
that we did not looke into all his chiefe ports, and do him in that kind as
much hurt as we might haue done. To which I aunswere, that first my end in
going to Cales was not onlie because it was a principall port and the
likeliest to be held by vs, by cause of the seat and naturall strength of
it; but also for that it was the farthest good porte south-ward; so as
beginning with it we might, if some greater seruice did not diuert vs, goe
to all the good ports betwixt that and the northmost ports of Biskaie:
which was a better waie then to haue begonne or giuen the enemie an alarum
in the middest of his Countrie, or the neerest ports to vs; for so our
attempts would haue ben more difficile, and our retreats at last from those
farthest ports less safe; considering the wants, infections, and other
inconveniences that for the most parte doe accompanie th